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SM 9

CONTINUE & IMPROVE 520 LANGUAGE

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Shannon Pinto

LESC will convene a broad statewide working group to study and improve NM's 520 Native American Language and Culture certification, delivering recommendations by Dec 31, 2025.

Signed
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Bill Summary · SM 9

Summary — SM 9: “Continue & Improve 520 Language” (Memorial)

Status: Signed (Introduced Feb 18, 2025; Passed Senate Mar 13, 2025; Signed Mar 14, 2025)
Classification: Memorial — requests study and recommendations (non‑binding, no appropriation)

Main purpose

SM 9 asks the Legislative Education Study Committee (LESC) to convene a statewide working group to study New Mexico’s 520 Native American Language and Culture (NALC) certification program and make recommendations to continue and improve the program’s structure, effectiveness, accountability and integration into the broader education system.

Key provisions / tasks

  • Convene a broad working group including:
    • PED’s Indian Education Division and Licensure Bureau
    • School districts and charter schools offering Native language/culture education
    • Organizations involved in 520 or bilingual teacher certification and professional development
    • Bilingual/multicultural education programs, higher education institutions, technical assistance centers, and 520‑certified educators
  • Charge the workgroup to study and recommend changes related to:
    • Organizational structure and accountability
    • Advancement pathways and professional development for 520‑certified instructors
    • Data collection and transparency
    • A long‑term strategy for system improvement
  • Deliverables: Workgroup to present findings and recommendations to LESC, the Legislature, and PED’s Indian Education Division no later than December 31, 2025.
  • Transmit copies of the memorial to PED leadership, the LESC director, and governing bodies of each New Mexico Indian nation, tribe and pueblo.

Who is affected

  • 520‑certified NALC instructors (133 active instructors reported in 2023–24)
  • Tribal nations, pueblos and nations that participate in 520 MOAs (16 by 2014)
  • Public schools, charter schools, PED (Indian Education Division and Licensure Bureau)
  • Higher education, technical assistance centers, and organizations providing bilingual education supports
  • Native students and communities benefiting from language/cultural instruction

Fiscal and administrative implications

  • Fiscal note: No direct state appropriation; LFC reports “no fiscal impact.” Costs are limited to participant time and routine agency activity.
  • Administrative: Participation will require staff time from multiple agencies and organizations; IAD notes potential diversion from normal duties.

Context and significance

  • 520 certificates (Section 22‑10A‑13 NMSA 1978) allow tribal‑approved fluent speakers to teach Native language and culture without a bachelor’s degree; memoranda of agreement with tribes preserve tribal sovereignty over certification.
  • 2022 amendment established salary parity for 520 instructors with level I licensed teachers; PED awarded $1,325,000 in FY25 to support the program.
  • The review aligns with broader efforts to address systemic inequities in education for Native students and complements related legislation (HB194, HB488, SB13, SB163, SB234).

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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